Notes on the Geography of Uzbekistan: Samarkand Market

We could wander through the old city's streets. Here, a relatively wide one, with typically elevated gas mains.

The streets narrow in branching systems full of dead-ends, and you can't tell if a street goes through until you try it. This one didn't: that big door was the end of the line. It's easy to get disoriented: "Bibi Khanum is around here someplace."

In the market adjoining the Bibi Khanum mosque. The barn is ugly, but the merchandise is beautiful.

Plenty of fresh fruit.

Specialist.

Fresh, spoon-crushed blackberry juice, thick as prune juice and good enough to make me wish I was back there.

Vegetables and greens.

Everything set out neatly.

Outside, stacks of cabbages. There were even bigger heaps of melons.

Some vendors come to the market with just a bucket or two of produce.

Thirsty? There are plenty of soda fountains, with syrup in cylinders and tanks in the back to make the water fizz. Nice guy, but how customers could choose this over fresh juice is above my pay grade.